Blog articles, indexed by subject
The fundamentals
Fundamentals of freedom and responsibility
To maximise the collective freedom that we enjoy as a society, it is our responsibility to make the most of what freedoms we have, but without acting in ways that impinge upon others' freedoms.
To maximise the collective freedom that we enjoy as a society, it is our responsibility to make the most of what freedoms we have, but without acting in ways that impinge upon others' freedoms.
"Rules are rules"
Rules should be set up and followed out of respect for wider moral considerations, and not followed just because they exist/because some authority figure says so.
Rules should be set up and followed out of respect for wider moral considerations, and not followed just because they exist/because some authority figure says so.
Legislating for idiots
Over-use of collective punishment/punishment by association, penalising responsible people by association with a minority of offenders, erodes both freedom AND responsibility.
Over-use of collective punishment/punishment by association, penalising responsible people by association with a minority of offenders, erodes both freedom AND responsibility.
This is bounded by our responsibility to be considerate of others and avoid inciting others into behaving irresponsibly. However, it is often being over-restricted to legislate for the minority.
Specific topic areas
Copyrights
Copyrights are meant to stimulate innovation and production by ensuring that content creators are rewarded for their work, but present-day copyright laws are often proving ineffective at achieving this and are suppressing beneficial, as well as harmful, free sharing of products and information.
Copyrights are meant to stimulate innovation and production by ensuring that content creators are rewarded for their work, but present-day copyright laws are often proving ineffective at achieving this and are suppressing beneficial, as well as harmful, free sharing of products and information.
Immigration policies are a difficult balance between encouraging more cultural diversity and economic growth, and risking social problems relating to cultural clashes and high population densities.
Transport-related articles
Transport part 1- Reducing dependency on cars
The benefits of cars primarily relate to recreation/convenience, and these benefits should not be curbed except as a last resort. Our problem, which we need to address urgently, is that we are far too reliant on them just for getting from A to B.
The benefits of cars primarily relate to recreation/convenience, and these benefits should not be curbed except as a last resort. Our problem, which we need to address urgently, is that we are far too reliant on them just for getting from A to B.
Transport part 2- Traffic restrictions
Traffic restrictions can be a good idea if applied selectively, to encourage traffic to use some routes and not others, and create pedestrian/cyclist-friendly zones, especially in residential zones and town/city centres. However, they have major negative effects if used en-masse as a way of legislating for the reckless minority and discouraging car use.
Traffic restrictions can be a good idea if applied selectively, to encourage traffic to use some routes and not others, and create pedestrian/cyclist-friendly zones, especially in residential zones and town/city centres. However, they have major negative effects if used en-masse as a way of legislating for the reckless minority and discouraging car use.
Transport part 3- Driver testing and training and driving styles
Being too draconian in enforcing eco-friendly driving styles will heavily erode many of the freedom-related benefits of car use. Meanwhile, we have a problem where the UK testing/training system for drivers does not prepare them strongly enough re. car control and adapting to road conditions and a more graduated system may be desirable.
Being too draconian in enforcing eco-friendly driving styles will heavily erode many of the freedom-related benefits of car use. Meanwhile, we have a problem where the UK testing/training system for drivers does not prepare them strongly enough re. car control and adapting to road conditions and a more graduated system may be desirable.
Transport part 4- Cycle facilities
I am in favour of creating a segregated and integrated cycle network, in conjunction with selective use of pedestrian/cycle-friendly zones, not to take cyclists off the roads, but to give cyclists additional alternative routes.
I am in favour of creating a segregated and integrated cycle network, in conjunction with selective use of pedestrian/cycle-friendly zones, not to take cyclists off the roads, but to give cyclists additional alternative routes.
I don't agree with suburban sprawl, but nor am I a fan of the idea of cramming everybody into densely-packed cities. The ideal middle ground may consist of conurbations with numerous "mini-centres" and areas of green space in between.
Relationships-related articles
"Normative" bullying
Most cases of discrimination and suppression of individuality arise when social groups enforce conformity with narrow, traditional ways of doing and thinking, seeing it as like enforcing laws of the land, and marginalise vulnerable/minority individuals and groups purely for being different.
Most cases of discrimination and suppression of individuality arise when social groups enforce conformity with narrow, traditional ways of doing and thinking, seeing it as like enforcing laws of the land, and marginalise vulnerable/minority individuals and groups purely for being different.
"Normative bullying part 2- Gender and relationships
The above form of bullying is still widely used as a way of enforcing conformity to gender roles, which limits the ability of individuals to make the most of strengths that are inconsistent with traditional sex roles.
The above form of bullying is still widely used as a way of enforcing conformity to gender roles, which limits the ability of individuals to make the most of strengths that are inconsistent with traditional sex roles.
Friendships in the "Western world" part 1- Introduction
Friendships are a very important part of human life, but are often under-rated and regarded as disposable because of the perception that "family" is more important, and that only people who are related to within a few generations are counted as being "family".
Friendships are a very important part of human life, but are often under-rated and regarded as disposable because of the perception that "family" is more important, and that only people who are related to within a few generations are counted as being "family".
Friendships in the "Western world" part 2- Cultural barriers facing friendships
A discussion of cultural barriers that face friendships, including knock-on effects of the perception that non-"family" relationships are disposable, and the fear of the potential for non-sexual friendships to turn sexual.
A discussion of cultural barriers that face friendships, including knock-on effects of the perception that non-"family" relationships are disposable, and the fear of the potential for non-sexual friendships to turn sexual.
Friendships in the "Western world" part 3- Truths and myths about friendships
No friendships are indestructible, and when friendships are lost or damaged, and/or we have potential to resurrect friendships that were previously lost, we should apply the same principles as we typically apply to other relationships. Unfortunately, many of us often do not.
No friendships are indestructible, and when friendships are lost or damaged, and/or we have potential to resurrect friendships that were previously lost, we should apply the same principles as we typically apply to other relationships. Unfortunately, many of us often do not.
It is very important to address relational aggression as it can bring individuals into vicious cycles of social and emotional isolation. But to address it effectively, we need to shake off the idea that if relationships are not "family" then they are disposable.
Traditional family values
Values like, "Love, take care of and support one another", and, "Knowing right from wrong", are certainly good for society. However, the "traditional family values" of the 1950s, as well as often being stifling, were often ineffective at encouraging these positive traits as well.
The tradition of the wife taking the husband's surname
The tradition can be followed harmlessly- my problems lie with the reasons why we are pressured into following it despite there being legitimate alternative ways of addressing the "family name" problem, which, although most of us don't like to admit it, are often left over from its patriarchal origins.
Traditional family values
Values like, "Love, take care of and support one another", and, "Knowing right from wrong", are certainly good for society. However, the "traditional family values" of the 1950s, as well as often being stifling, were often ineffective at encouraging these positive traits as well.
The tradition of the wife taking the husband's surname
The tradition can be followed harmlessly- my problems lie with the reasons why we are pressured into following it despite there being legitimate alternative ways of addressing the "family name" problem, which, although most of us don't like to admit it, are often left over from its patriarchal origins.
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